Bar-code ticket processing apparatus and method of controlling bar-code ticket processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A burden of an operation of manually inputting identification information of an error bar-code ticket by using an external device can be reduced, and both image information and identification information of the error bar-code ticket can be transmitted to the external device. A bar-code ticket processing apparatus to be connected to an external device, the bar-code ticket processing apparatus includes: a taking unit configured to take thereinto a bar-code ticket; an image-information reading unit configured to read image information of the bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit; an identification-information reading unit configured to read identification information of the bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit; a control unit configured to judge, when the identification-information reading unit fails in reading of the identification information of the bar-code ticket, the bar-code ticket as an error bar-code ticket; an input unit configured to receive a manual input of the identification information of the bar-code ticket judged as the error bar-code ticket by the control unit; and a data transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the external device, the image information read by the image-information reading unit and the identification information received by the input unit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bar-bode ticket processing apparatusand a method of controlling the apparatus. In particular, the presentinvention relates to a bar-code ticket processing apparatus to beconnected to an external device, and a method of controlling theapparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In casino halls, an amusement machine (e.g., a slot machine) has beenrecently equipped with an apparatus for taking thereinto banknotes orbar-code tickets. When a banknote is taken thereinto, an accountingoperation is performed by a banknote processing device. Meanwhile, whena bar-code ticket is taken thereinto, an accounting operation isperformed by a bar-code ticket processing apparatus. Specifically, inthe accounting operation of a bar-code ticket, it is sometimes requiredto manage, for a predetermined period of time, the bar-code ticketitself used by a player or the like or image information thereof.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,320 discloses a bar-code ticket processing apparatusthat reads image information of a bar-code ticket and identificationinformation thereof (e.g., characters (validation number) indicating thecontents of the bar-code), and transmits the image information and theidentification information to an external device (terminal device) formanaging the image information and the identification information.

However, the bar-code ticket processing apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 7,201,320 transmits all the image information of the bar-codetickets taken therein to the external device, regardless of consequence(success or fail) of reading of the identification information. Thus,the external device stores both the image information of bar-codetickets whose identification information were successfully read, and theimage information of other bar-code tickets whose identificationinformation were erroneously read (hereinafter referred to as “errorbar-code ticket”). Thus, after the operation of the bar-code ticketprocessing apparatus has been finished, it is necessary to manuallyinput the identification information of the error bar-code ticket, byusing the external device, i.e., a burden of the operation by using theexternal device is increased. Especially, when the image information andthe identification information are transmitted from a plurality ofbar-code ticket processing apparatuses, the burden of the operation byusing the external device is significantly increased.

On the other hand, there has been conventionally known another type ofbar-code ticket processing apparatus that transmits the imageinformation and the identification information to the external device,only when the identification information was successfully read.

However, since this type of bar-code ticket processing apparatus isdisadvantageous in that, when the identification information fails to beread, the read image information is also not transmitted, so thatneither image information nor identification information of such anerror bar-code ticket cannot be transmitted to the external device.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances.The object of the present invention is to reduce the burden of theoperation of manually inputting the identification information of anerror bar-code ticket by using an external device, and to transmit boththe image information and the identification information of an errorbar-code ticket to an external device.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a bar-code ticket processing apparatus to be connected to anexternal device, the bar-code ticket processing apparatus including: ataking unit configured to take thereinto a bar-code ticket; animage-information reading unit configured to read image information ofthe bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit; anidentification-information reading unit configured to readidentification information of the bar-code ticket taken by the takingunit; a control unit configured to judge, when theidentification-information reading unit fails in reading of theidentification information of the bar-code ticket, the bar-code ticketas an error bar-code ticket; an input unit configured to receive amanual input of the identification information of the bar-code ticketjudged as the error bar-code ticket by the control unit; and a datatransmitting unit configured to transmit, to the external device, theimage information read by the image-information reading unit and theidentification information received by the input unit.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the bar-code ticket processing apparatus of the firstembodiment wherein: the identification-information reading unit includesa bar-code reader configured to read a bar-code of the bar-code tickettaken by the taking unit; and when the bar-code reader fails in readingof the bar-code of the bar-code ticket, the control unit is configuredto judge the bar-code ticket as the error bar-code ticket.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the bar-code ticket processing apparatus of the firstembodiment wherein: the identification-information reading unit includesan OCR configured to read characteristic information printed on thebar-code ticket from the image information of the bar-code ticket readby the image-information reading unit; and when the OCR fails in readingof the characteristic information printed on the bar-code ticket, thecontrol unit is configured to judge the bar-code ticket as the errorbar-code ticket.

According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the bar-code ticket processing apparatus of the thirdembodiment wherein when the OCR fails in reading of a validation numbercorresponding to the bar-code, the control unit is configured to judgethe bar-code ticket as the error bar-code ticket.

According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the bar-code ticket processing apparatus of the thirdembodiment wherein, when the OCR fails in reading of a sum of money or ashop name printed on the bar-code ticket, the control unit is configuredto judge the bar-code ticket as the error bar-code ticket.

According to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the bar-code ticket processing apparatus of the firstembodiment that is further including a transportation unit configured totransport, when the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-codeticket by the control unit, the error bar-code ticket to the rejectunit.

According to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the bar-code ticket processing apparatus of the firstembodiment wherein: the taking unit is configured to take thereintoerror bar-code tickets one by one; and when the image information of theerror bar-code ticket read by the image-information reading unit and theidentification information of the error bar-code ticket received by theinput unit are transmitted by the data transmitting unit to the externaldevice, the taking unit is configured to take a next error bar-codeticket.

According to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the bar-code ticket processing apparatus of the firstembodiment wherein, when the bar-code ticket is judged as the errorbar-code ticket by the control unit, the taking unit is configured tointerrupt the taking operation.

According to a ninth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the bar-code ticket processing apparatus of the eighthembodiment wherein: the input unit is configured to receive a manualinput of the identification information of the error bar-code ticket,after the taking operation has been interrupted; and when theidentification information of the error bar-code ticket is received bythe input unit, the taking unit restarts the taking operation.

According to a tenth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the bar-code ticket processing apparatus of the firstembodiment that is further including a display unit configured todisplay the image information of the bar-code ticket judged as the errorbar-code ticket by the control unit.

According to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatusto be connected to an external device, the method including: taking abar-code ticket; reading image information of the bar-code ticket takenin the taking of the bar-code ticket; reading identification informationof the bar-code ticket taken in the taking of the bar-code; judging,when the reading of the identification information of the bar-codeticket fails in the reading of the identification information, thebar-code ticket as an error bar-code ticket; receiving a manual input ofthe identification information of the bar-code ticket judged as theerror bar-code ticket in the judging of the bar-code ticket; andtransmitting the image information read in the reading of the imageinformation and the identification information received by the receivingof the identification information to the external device.

According to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the method of controlling a bar-code ticket processingapparatus of the eleventh embodiment wherein: in the reading of theidentification information, a bar-code of the bar-code ticket taken inthe taking of the bar-code is read; and in the judging of the bar-codeticket, when the reading of the bar-code of the bar-code ticket fails inthe reading of the identification information, the bar-code ticket isjudged as the error bar-code ticket.

According to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the method of controlling a bar-code ticket processingapparatus of the eleventh embodiment wherein: in the reading of theidentification information, characteristic information printed on thebar-code ticket is read from the image information of the bar-codeticket read in the reading of the image information; and in the judgingof the bar-code ticket, when the reading of the characteristicinformation printed on the bar-code ticket fails in the reading of theidentification information, the bar-code ticket is judged as the errorbar-code ticket.

According to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the method of controlling a bar-code ticket processingapparatus of the thirteenth embodiment wherein, in the judging of thebar-code ticket, when the reading of a validation number correspondingto the bar-code fails in the reading of the identification information,the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-code ticket.

According to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the method of controlling a bar-code ticket processingapparatus of the thirteenth embodiment wherein, in the judging of thebar-code ticket, when the reading of a sum of money or a shop nameprinted on the bar-code ticket fails in the reading of theidentification information, the bar-code ticket is judged as the errorbar-code ticket.

According to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the method of controlling a bar-code ticket processingapparatus of the eleventh embodiment that is further includingtransporting, when the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-codeticket in the judging of the bar-code ticket, the error bar-code ticketto a reject unit.

According to a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the method of controlling a bar-code ticket processingapparatus of the eleventh embodiment wherein: in the taking of thebar-code ticket, error bar-code tickets are taken one by one; and whenthe image information of the error bar-code ticket read in the readingof the image information and the identification information of the errorbar-code ticket received by the input unit are transported to theexternal device in the transmitting of the data, a next error bar-codeticket is taken in the taking of the bar-code ticket.

According to an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the method of controlling a bar-code ticket processingapparatus of the eleventh embodiment wherein, in the taking of thebar-code ticket, when the bar-code ticket is judged as the errorbar-code ticket in the judging of the bar-code ticket, the takingoperation is interrupted.

According to a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided the method of controlling a bar-code ticket processingapparatus of the eighteenth embodiment wherein: in the receiving of themanual input, a manual input of the identification information of theerror bar-code ticket is received after the taking operation has beeninterrupted; and in the taking of the bar-code ticket, when theidentification information of the error bar-code ticket is received inthe inputting of the identification information, the taking operation isrestarted.

In a twentieth embodiment of the present invention, there is providedthe method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus of theeleventh embodiment that is further including displaying the imageinformation of the bar-code ticket judged as the error bar-code ticketin the judging of the bar-code ticket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the structure of a bar-code ticketprocessing apparatus 100 in Example 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the bar-code ticketprocessing apparatus 100 in Example 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of a bar-code ticketprocess in Example 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of a judgment process(S304 of FIG. 3);

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of a transportationprocess (S305 of FIG. 3);

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of an error bar-codeticket process in Example 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of a judgment process(S304 of FIG. 3) in Example 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of a transportationprocess (S305 of FIG. 3) in Example 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of a judgment process(S304 of FIG. 3) in Example 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of a transportationprocess (S305 of FIG. 3) in Example 3 of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of an error bar-codeticket process in Example 3 of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Herebelow, examples of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings. The following examples are shown by way ofexample, and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

Example 1

Example 1 of the present invention will be described at first. Inexample 1 of the present invention, in an error bar-code ticket processthat is performed after a bar-code ticket process has been finished,image information of an error bar-code ticket is read and a manual inputof identification information thereof is received.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the structure of a bar-code ticketprocessing apparatus 100 in Example 1 of the present invention.

The bar-code ticket processing apparatus 100 in Example of the presentinvention includes a taking unit 101, a transportation state detectingunit 102, a transportation unit 103, a reading unit 104, a firstcollecting unit 105A, a second collecting unit 105B, a first counter106A, a second counter 106B, a reject unit 107, an input unit 108, and adisplay unit 109. The respective units 101 to 109 are operated based oncontrol signals outputted from a control unit 110 which is describedbelow.

The taking unit 101 is configured to take thereinto bar-code tickets oneby one from a batch (bundle) of bar-code tickets placed thereon.

The transportation state detecting unit 102 is a sensor configured todetect a transportation state of the bar-code tickets taken by thetaking unit 101. Upon detection of an abnormal transportation, thetransportation state detecting unit 102 is configured to output aabnormal-transportation signal to the control unit 110 described below.For example, when the transportation state detecting unit 102 detects astate in which a certain bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit 101 isskewed (skewed state), another state in which bar-code tickets are takenwithout any predetermined intervals therebetween (chained state), oranother state in which bar-code tickets are taken in an overlappedmanner (overlapped state), the transportation state detecting unit 102outputs a abnormal-transportation signal to the control unit 110.

The transportation unit 103 is a transportation mechanism configured totransport the bar-code tickets taken by the taking unit 101 to the firstcollecting unit 105A, the second collecting unit 105B, or the rejectunit 107. In FIG. 1, the transportation unit 103 includes atransportation path of a U-shape that is laterally arranged, a pluralityof transportation belts, a plurality of transportation rollers, and abranching mechanism formed of branching claws or the like.

The reading unit 104 is disposed on a downstream side of thetransportation state detecting unit 102. The reading unit 104 isconfigured to read image information and identification information(validation number) of a bar-code ticket that has been transported bythe transportation unit 103. In Example 1 of the present invention, thereading unit 104 may be arranged on an upstream side of thetransportation state detecting unit 102, or may be arranged integrallywith the transportation state detecting unit 102.

The first and second collecting units 105A and 105B respectively havestackers in which the bar-code tickets, which have been transported bythe transportation unit 103, can be collected. The respective stackersof the first and second collecting units 105A and 105B have openingsopened to the same direction, and display panels for displaying countedresults by the first and second counters 106A and 106B.

The first and second counters 106A and 106B are respectively configuredto count the number of bar-code tickets collected in the first andsecond collecting units 105A and 105B, and to output the counted resultsto the control unit 110 and the display panels of the first and secondcollecting units 105A and 105B.

The reject unit 107 is located at a position nearer to the taking unit101 than the first and second collecting units 105A and 105B.Preferably, the reject unit 107 is located below the taking unit 101 andon a terminal end of the U-shaped transportation belt. The reject unit107 is provided with openings opened in plural directions including adirection of the taking unit 101, and with movable stoppers thatprevents the collected bar-code tickets from jumping out from theopenings. The maximum number of bar-code tickets to be collected in thereject unit 107 is smaller than the maximum numbers thereof to becollected in the first and second collecting unit 105A and 105B.

The input unit 108 has a plurality of input keys which can be manuallyoperated by an operator. When one of the input keys is pushed down by anoperator, the input unit 108 outputs a signal indicating the pressedinput key to the control unit 110.

The display unit 109 is composed of two liquid-crystal display panelsfor displaying a predetermined image. The display unit 109 is configuredto suitably display image data outputted by the control unit 110 on thetwo liquid-crystal display panels.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the bar-code ticketprocessing apparatus 100 in Example 1 of the present invention.

The bar-code ticket processing apparatus 100 in Example 1 of the presentinvention further includes the control unit 110, a storage unit 111, anda data transmitting unit 112, in addition to the respective units 101 to109 shown in FIG. 1.

The control unit 110 is connected to the respective units 101 to 109,111, and 112. The control unit 110 is configured to output controlsignals to the respective units 101 to 109, 111, and 112 so as tocontrol operations thereof. Further, the control unit 110 is configuredto output image data to the display unit 109, and to output, to the datatransmitting unit 112, image information read by the image-informationreading unit 104A and identification information read by anidentification-information reading unit 104B.

The image-information reading unit 104A is configured to read imageinformation of each bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit 101, and tooutput the read image information to the control unit 110. For example,the image-information reading unit 104A is a linear sensor.

The identification-information reading unit 104B is configured to readidentification information of each bar-code ticket taken by the takingunit 101, and to output the read identification information to thecontrol unit 110. When the identification-information reading unit 104Bfails in reading of the identification information of the bar-codeticket, the identification-information reading unit 104B is configuredto output an error signal to the control unit 110. For example, theidentification-information reading unit 104B is includes at least one ofa bar-code reader and an optical character reader (hereinafter referredto as “OCR”).

When the identification-information reading unit 104B includes abar-code reader, the identification-information reading unit 104B readsidentification information from a bar-code printed on a bar-code tickettaken by the taking unit 101.

When the identification-information reading unit 104B includes an OCR,the identification-information reading unit 104B reads identificationinformation of a bar-bode ticket from the image information read by theimage-information reading unit 104A.

The storage unit 111 is configured to store a control program of thecontrol unit 110, counted results of the first and second counters 106Aand 106B, pattern setting information, and image data to be displayed onthe display unit 109.

The data transmitting unit 112 is connected to an external device 120.The data transmitting unit 112 is configured to transmit the imageinformation and the identification information outputted by the controlunit 110 to the external device 120.

The external device 120 is connected to the bar-code ticket processingapparatus in Example 1 of the present invention. The external device 120is configured to manage the image information and the identificationinformation transmitted by the bar-code ticket processing apparatus 100.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of a bar-code ticketprocess in Example 1 of the present invention.

The bar-code ticket process in Example 1 of the present invention iscarried out by the respective units 101 to 109, 111, and 112 of thebar-code ticket processing apparatus 100, which are operated based oncontrol signals outputted by the control unit 110.

At first, the taking unit 101 starts a taking operation of a batch(bundle) of bar-code tickets placed thereon (S301).

Then, the image-information reading unit 104A reads image information ofthe bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit 101, and outputs the readimage information to the control unit 110 (S302).

Then, the identification-information reading unit 104B readsidentification information of the bar-code ticket taken by the takingunit 101, and outputs the read identification information to the controlunit 110 (S303). At this time, when the identification-informationreading unit 104B fails in reading of the identification information,the identification-information reading unit 104B outputs an error signalto the control unit 110.

Then, the control unit 110 performs a judgment process described below(S304).

Then, the transportation unit 103 performs a transportation processdescribed below (S305).

Then, the data transmitting unit 112 transmits the image information andthe identification information outputted by the control unit 110, to theexternal device 120 (S306).

The steps S302 to S306 are repeated until all the bar-code ticketsplaced on the taking unit 101 are taken by the taking unit 101(S307-NO). When there remains no bar-code ticket on the taking unit 101(S307-YES), the taking unit 101 stops the taking operation which wasstarted in the step 5301 (5308).

The bar-code ticket process in Example 1 of the present invention isterminated after the step S308.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of the judgmentprocess (S304 of FIG. 3).

The judgment process (5304 of FIG. 3) is carried out by the respectiveunits 101 to 109, 111, and 112 of the bar-code ticket processingapparatus 100, which are operated based on control signals outputted bythe control unit 110.

At first, when an error signal is outputted by theidentification-information reading unit 104B in the step S303 of FIG. 3(S401-YES), the control unit 110 judges the bar-code ticket taken by thetaking unit 101 as an error bar-code ticket (S402).

On the other hand, when identification information is outputted by theidentification-information reading unit 104B in the step S303 of FIG. 3(S401-NO), the control unit 110 judges the type of the bar-code tickettaken by the taking unit 101 (S403), based on the identificationinformation (e.g., the digit number of the validation number). Thejudged bar-code tickets are classified into a first bar-code ticket(e.g., TITO (Ticket In Ticket Out) ticket) whose image information andidentification information should be transmitted to the external device120, or a second bar-code ticket (e.g., coupon ticket) whose imageinformation and identification information may not be transmitted to theexternal device 120.

Then, when the bar-code ticket is judged as the first bar-code ticket inthe step S403 (S404-YES), the control unit 110 outputs, to the datatransmitting unit 112, the image information outputted by theimage-information reading unit 104A in the step S302 of FIG. 3, and theidentification information outputted by the identification-informationreading unit 104B in the step S303 of FIG. 3 (S405).

The judgment process (S304 of FIG. 3) is terminated when the bar-codeticket is judged as the second bar-code ticket after the step S402 orS405 or in the step S403 (S404-NO).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of the transportationprocess (S305 of FIG. 3).

The transportation process (S305 of FIG. 3) is carried out by therespective units 101 to 109, 111, and 112 of the bar-code ticketprocessing apparatus 100, which are operated based on control signalsoutputted by the control unit 110.

At first, when an error signal is outputted in the step S401 of FIG. 4(S401-NO) and the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-code ticketin the step S402 (S501-YES), the transportation unit 103 transports thebar-code ticket taken by the taking unit 101 to the reject unit 107(S502).

On the other hand, when no error signal is outputted in the step S401 ofFIG. 4 (S401-YES) and the bar-code ticket is not judged as the errorbar-code ticket in the step S402 (S501-NO) but is judged as the firstbar-code ticket (S503-YES), the transportation unit 103 transports thebar-code ticket taken by the taking unit 101 to the first collectingunit 105A (S504). Then, the control unit 110 increases the count numberof the first counter 106A (S505).

On the other hand, when no error signal is outputted in the step S401 ofFIG. 4 (S401-YES) and the bar-code ticket is not judged as the errorbar-code ticket in the step S402 (S501-NO) but is judged as the secondbar-code ticket (S503-NO), the transportation unit 103 transports thebar-code ticket taken by the taking unit 101 to the second collectingunit 105B (S506). Then, the control unit 110 increases the count numberof the second counter 106B (S507).

The transportation process (S305 of FIG. 3) is terminated after the stepS502, S505, or S507.

In the transportation process (S305 of FIG. 3) in Example 1 of thepresent invention, the bar-code tickets are transported to the first andthe second collecting units 105A and 105B depending on the types of thebar-code tickets. However, when the first collecting unit 105A becomesfull, the bar-code tickets may be transported to the second collectingunit 105B.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of the error bar-codeticket process in Example 1 of the present invention.

When an input command for starting the error bar-code ticket processmode is received by the input unit 108, the error bar-code ticketprocess in Example 1 of the present invention is carried out by therespective units 101 to 109, 111, and 112 of the bar-code ticketprocessing apparatus 100, which are operated based on control signalsoutputted by the control unit 110.

At first, the input unit 108 receives a manual input of theidentification information of the error bar-code ticket, and outputs theinformation to the control unit 110 (S601). The manual input isperformed by an operator who looks at the error bar-code ticket. To bespecific, the operator picks up the error bar-code ticket which has beentransported to the reject unit 107 in the step S502 of FIG. 5, and looksat the numerical characters (validation number) printed near to thebar-code. Then, the operator inputs the validation number by pressingdown a numeric pad of the input unit 108. At this time, the control unit110 outputs the identification information outputted by the input unit108 to the data transmitting unit 112.

Then, the taking unit 101 takes the error bar-code tickets placedthereon (S602). After the step S601, the error bar-code tickets areplaced one by one on the taking unit 101 by the operator, from the batchof the error bar-code tickets which have been transported to the rejectunit 107 in the step S502 of FIG. 5

Then, the image-information reading unit 104A reads the imageinformation of the error bar-code ticket taken in the step S602, andoutputs the read image information to the control unit 110 (S603). Atthis time, the control unit 110 outputs the image information outputtedby the image-information reading unit 104A to the data transmitting unit112.

Then, the control unit 110 performs the judgment process shown in FIG. 4(S604). At this time, the control unit 110 judges the types of thebar-code tickets according to the identification information received inthe step S601 (S403 of FIG. 4)

Then, the transportation unit 103 performs the transportation processshown in FIG. 5 (S605).

Then, the data transmitting unit 112 transmits the image information andthe identification information, which have been outputted by the controlunit 110 in the steps S601 and 5603, to the external device 120 (S606).

The steps S601 to S606 are repeated until an input command forterminating the error bar-code ticket process mode is received by theinput unit 108 (S607-NO). When such an input command is received(S607-YES), the error bar-code ticket process in Example 1 of thepresent invention is terminated.

In Example 1 of the present invention, although two types of the firstbar-code ticket and the second bar-code ticket are processed, only thefirst bar-code ticket may be processed. In this case, the firstcollecting unit 105A and the second collecting unit 105B may bealternately switched, every when the collecting unit 105A or 105Bbecomes full or every when the collecting unit 105A or 105B receives thepredetermined number of tickets.

According to Example 1 of the present invention, the image informationand the identification information of the bar-code ticket whoseidentification information has been successfully read in the bar-codeticket process, are transmitted to the external device 120, and theimage information and the identification information of the errorbar-code tickets are transmitted to the external device 120 in the errorbar-code ticket process. Thus, the burden of an operation of manuallyinputting the identification information of the error bar-code ticket byusing the external device 120 can be reduced, and both the imageinformation and the identification information of the error bar-codeticket can be transmitted to the external device 120.

Example 2

Next, Example 2 of the present invention will be described. In Example 1of the present invention, in the error bar-code ticket process that isperformed after the termination of the bar-code ticket process, theimage information of the error bar-code ticket is read, and a manualinput of the identification information thereof is received. On theother hand, in Example 2 of the present invention, when the bar-codeticket is judged as an error bar-code ticket in the bar-code ticketprocess, the taking operation is interrupted and a manual input ofidentification information of the error bar-code ticket is received.Part of description of Example 2 that is repeating that of Example 1 isomitted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of the judgmentprocess (S304 of FIG. 3) in Example 2 of the present invention.

The judgment process (S304 of FIG. 3) in Example 2 of the presentinvention is carried out by the respective units 101 to 109, 111, and112 of the bar-code ticket processing apparatus 100, which are operatedbased on control signals outputted by the control unit 110.

At first, when an error signal is outputted by the identificationinformation reading unit 104B in the step S303 of FIG. 3 (S701-YES), thecontrol unit 110 judges the bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit 101as an error bar-code ticket (S702).

Then, the taking unit 101 interrupts the taking operation of thebar-code tickets (S703).

Then, the input unit 108 receives a manual input of the identificationinformation of the error bar-code ticket, and outputs the information tothe control unit 110 (S704). The manual input is performed by anoperator who looks at the error bar-code ticket.

Then, the taking unit 101 restarts the taking operation of the bar-codetickets (S705).

Then, the control unit 110 judges the type of the bar-code ticket takenby the taking unit 101 (S706), based on the identification information(e.g., the digit number of the validation number) outputted by the inputunit 108 in the step S704. The judged bar-code tickets are classifiedinto a first bar-code ticket (e.g., TITO (Ticket In Ticket Out) ticket)whose image information and identification information should betransmitted to the external device 120, or a second bar-code ticket(e.g., coupon ticket) whose image information and identificationinformation may not be transmitted to the external device 120.

When the bar-code ticket is judged as the first bar-code ticket in thestep S706 (S707-YES), the control unit 110 outputs, to the datatransmitting unit 112, the image information outputted by theimage-information reading unit 104A in the step S302 of FIG. 3 and theidentification information outputted by the input unit 108 in the stepS704 (S708).

The judgment process (S304 of FIG. 3) in Example 2 of the presentinvention is terminated when the bar-code ticket is judged as the secondbar-code ticket after the step S708 or in the step S706 (S707-NO).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of the transportationprocess (S305 of FIG. 3) in Example 2 of the present invention.

The transportation process (S305 of FIG. 3) in Example 2 of the presentinvention is carried out by the respective units 101 to 109, 111, and112 of the bar-code ticket processing apparatus 100, which are operatedbased on control signals outputted by the control unit 110.

At first, when the bar-code ticket is judged as the first bar-codeticket in the step S706 of FIG. 7 (5801-YES), the transportation unit103 transports the bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit 101 to thefirst collecting unit 105A (S802). Then, the control unit 110 increasesthe count number of the first counter 106A (S803).

On the other hand, when the bar-code ticket is judged as the secondbar-code ticket in the step S706 of FIG. 7 (S801-NO), the transportationunit 103 transports the bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit 101 tothe second collecting unit 105B (S804). Then, the control unit 110increases the count number of the second counter 106B (S805).

The transportation process (S305 of FIG. 3) in Example 2 of the presentinvention is terminated after the step S803 or S805.

In Example 2 of the present invention, although two types of the firstbar-code ticket and the second bar-code ticket are processed in thetransportation process (S305 of FIG. 3), only the first bar-code ticketmay be processed. In this case, the first collecting unit 105A and thesecond collecting unit 105B may be alternately switched, every when thecollecting unit 105A or 105B becomes full or every when the collectingunit 105A or 105B receives the predetermined number of tickets.

According to Example 2 of the present invention, when the bar-codeticket is judged as the error bar-code ticket in the bar-code ticketprocess, the taking operation of the bar-code tickets is interrupted,and a manual input of the identification information of the errorbar-code ticket is received by the input unit 108. Thus, the burden ofan operation of manually inputting the identification information of theerror bar-code ticket by using the external device 120 can be reduced,and both the image information and the identification information of theerror bar-code ticket can be transmitted to the external device 120.

Example 3

Next, Example 3 of the present invention will be described. In Example 1of the present invention, in the error bar-code ticket process that isperformed after the termination of the bar-code ticket process, theimage information of the error bar-code ticket is read, and a manualinput of the identification information thereof is received. On theother hand, in Example 3 of the present invention, the image informationis displayed in the error bar-code ticket process, and a manual input ofthe identification information thereof is received. Part of descriptionof Example 3 that is repeating those of Examples 1 and 2 is omitted.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of the judgmentprocess (S304 of FIG. 3) in Example 3 of the present invention.

The judgment process (S304 of FIG. 3) in Example 3 of the presentinvention is carried out by the respective units 101 to 109, 111, and112 of the bar-code ticket processing apparatus 100, which are operatedbased on control signals outputted by the control unit 110.

At first, when an error signal is outputted by theidentification-information reading unit 104B in the step S303 of FIG. 3(S901-YES), the control unit 110 judges the bar-code ticket taken by thetaking unit 101 as the error bar-code ticket (S902).

Then, the control unit 110 stores the image information, which has beenoutputted by the image-information reading unit 104A in the step S302 ofFIG. 3, to the storage unit 111 (S903).

On the other hand, when identification information is outputted by theidentification-information reading unit 104B in the step S303 of FIG. 3(S901-NO), the control unit 110 judges the bar-code ticket taken by thetaking unit 1010 as a correct bar-code ticket (S904).

Then, the control unit 110 outputs, to the data transmitting unit 112,the image information read by the image-information reading unit 104A inthe step S302 of FIG. 3 and the identification information read by theidentification-information reading unit 104B in the step S303 of FIG. 3(S905).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of the transportationprocess (S305 of FIG. 3) in Example 3 of the present invention.

The transportation process (S305 of FIG. 3) in Example 3 of the presentinvention is carried out by the respective units 101 to 109, 111, and112 of the bar-code ticket processing apparatus 100, which are operatedbased on control signals outputted by the control unit 110.

At first, the transportation unit 103 transports the bar-code tickets(error bar-code tickets and correct bar-code tickets) to the firstcollecting unit 105A until the first collecting unit 105A becomes full(S1001-NO, S1002). Then, the control unit 110 increases the count numberof the first counter 106A (S1003).

On the other hand, when the first collecting unit 105A has been alreadyfull (S1001-YES), the bar-code tickets (error bar-code tickets andcorrect bar-code tickets) are transported to the second collecting unit105B (S1004). Then, the control unit 110 increases the count number ofthe second counter 106B (S1005).

The transportation process (S305 of FIG. 3) in Example 3 of the presentinvention is terminated after the step S1003 or S1005.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of the error bar-codeticket process in Example 3 of the present invention.

When a manual input command for starting the error bar-code ticketprocess mode is received by the input unit 108, the error bar-codeticket process in Example 3 of the present invention is carried out bythe respective units 101 to 109, 111, and 112 of the bar-code ticketprocessing apparatus 100, which are operated based on control signalsoutputted by the control unit 110.

At first, the control unit 110 reads the image information stored in thestorage unit 111 in the step S903 of FIG. 9 (S1101).

Then, the display unit 109 displays the image information outputted bythe control unit 110 in the step S1101 (S1102).

Then, the input unit 108 receives a manual input of the identificationinformation of the error bar-code ticket, and outputs the information tothe control unit 110 (S1103). The manual input is performed by anoperator who looks at the error bar-code ticket. To be specific, theoperator looks at the numerical characters (validation number) printednear to the bar-code, with the aid of a zoom-display process or thelike. Then, the operator inputs the validation number by pressing down anumeric pad of the input unit 108. At this time, the control unit 110outputs the identification information outputted by the input unit 108to the data transmitting unit 112.

Then, the data transmitting unit 120 transmits the image information andthe identification information outputted by the control unit 110, to theexternal device 120 (S1104).

Then, the control unit 110 deletes the image information transmitted tothe external device 120 in the step S1104, from the storage unit 111(S1105).

The steps S1101 to S1105 are repeated until there remains no imageinformation stored in the storage unit 111 (S1106-NO). When thereremains no image information stored in the storage unit 111 (S1106-YES),the error bar-code process in Example 3 of the present invention isterminated.

In Example 3 of the present invention, although two types of the firstbar-code ticket and the second bar-code ticket are processed, only thefirst bar-code ticket may be processed. In this case, the firstcollecting unit 105A and the second collecting unit 105B may bealternately switched, every when the collecting unit 105A or 105Bbecomes full or every when the collecting unit 105A or 105B receives thepredetermined number of tickets.

According to Example 3 of the present invention, the image informationis displayed and a manual input of the identification information isreceived in the error bar-code ticket process. Thus, the burden of anoperation of manually inputting the identification information of theerror bar-code ticket by using the external device 120 can be reduced,and both the image information and the identification information of theerror bar-code ticket can be transmitted to the external device 120.

1. A bar-code ticket processing apparatus to be connected to an external device, the bar-code ticket processing apparatus comprising: a taking unit configured to take thereinto a bar-code ticket; an image-information reading unit configured to read image information of the bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit; an identification-information reading unit configured to read identification information of the bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit; a control unit configured to judge, when the identification-information reading unit fails in reading of the identification information of the bar-code ticket, the bar-code ticket as an error bar-code ticket; an input unit configured to receive a manual input of the identification information of the bar-code ticket judged as the error bar-code ticket by the control unit; and a data transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the external device, the image information read by the image-information reading unit and the identification information received by the input unit.
 2. The bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the identification-information reading unit includes a bar-code reader configured to read a bar-code of the bar-code ticket taken by the taking unit; and when the bar-code reader fails in reading of the bar-code of the bar-code ticket, the control unit is configured to judge the bar-code ticket as the error bar-code ticket.
 3. The bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the identification-information reading unit includes an OCR configured to read characteristic information printed on the bar-code ticket from the image information of the bar-code ticket read by the image-information reading unit; and when the OCR fails in reading of the characteristic information printed on the bar-code ticket, the control unit is configured to judge the bar-code ticket as the error bar-code ticket.
 4. The bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the OCR fails in reading of a validation number corresponding to the bar-code, the control unit is configured to judge the bar-code ticket as the error bar-code ticket.
 5. The bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the OCR fails in reading of a sum of money or a shop name printed on the bar-code ticket, the control unit is configured to judge the bar-code ticket as the error bar-code ticket.
 6. The bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a transportation unit configured to transport, when the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-code ticket by the control unit, the error bar-code ticket to the reject unit.
 7. The bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the taking unit is configured to take thereinto error bar-code tickets one by one; and when the image information of the error bar-code ticket read by the image-information reading unit and the identification information of the error bar-code ticket received by the input unit are transmitted by the data transmitting unit to the external device, the taking unit is configured to take a next error bar-code ticket.
 8. The bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-code ticket by the control unit, the taking unit is configured to interrupt the taking operation.
 9. The bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the input unit is configured to receive a manual input of the identification information of the error bar-code ticket, after the taking operation has been interrupted; and when the identification information of the error bar-code ticket is received by the input unit, the taking unit restarts the taking operation.
 10. The bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit configured to display the image information of the bar-code ticket judged as the error bar-code ticket by the control unit.
 11. A method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus to be connected to an external device, the method comprising: taking a bar-code ticket; reading image information of the bar-code ticket taken in the taking of the bar-code ticket; reading identification information of the bar-code ticket taken in the taking of the bar-code; judging, when the reading of the identification information of the bar-code ticket fails in the reading of the identification information, the bar-code ticket as an error bar-code ticket; receiving a manual input of the identification information of the bar-code ticket judged as the error bar-code ticket in the judging of the bar-code ticket; and transmitting the image information read in the reading of the image information and the identification information received by the receiving of the identification information to the external device.
 12. The method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: in the reading of the identification information, a bar-code of the bar-code ticket taken in the taking of the bar-code is read; and in the judging of the bar-code ticket, when the reading of the bar-code of the bar-code ticket fails in the reading of the identification information, the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-code ticket.
 13. The method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: in the reading of the identification information, characteristic information printed on the bar-code ticket is read from the image information of the bar-code ticket read in the reading of the image information; and in the judging of the bar-code ticket, when the reading of the characteristic information printed on the bar-code ticket fails in the reading of the identification information, the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-code ticket.
 14. The method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein in the judging of the bar-code ticket, when the reading of a validation number corresponding to the bar-code fails in the reading of the identification information, the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-code ticket.
 15. The method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein in the judging of the bar-code ticket, when the reading of a sum of money or a shop name printed on the bar-code ticket fails in the reading of the identification information, the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-code ticket.
 16. The method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: transporting, when the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-code ticket in the judging of the bar-code ticket, the error bar-code ticket to a reject unit.
 17. The method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: in the taking of the bar-code ticket, error bar-code tickets are taken one by one; and when the image information of the error bar-code ticket read in the reading of the image information and the identification information of the error bar-code ticket received by the input unit are transported to the external device in the transmitting of the data, a next error bar-code ticket is taken in the taking of the bar-code ticket.
 18. The method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein in the taking of the bar-code ticket, when the bar-code ticket is judged as the error bar-code ticket in the judging of the bar-code ticket, the taking operation is interrupted.
 19. The method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein: in the receiving of the manual input, a manual input of the identification information of the error bar-code ticket is received after the taking operation has been interrupted; and in the taking of the bar-code ticket, when the identification information of the error bar-code ticket is received in the inputting of the identification information, the taking operation is restarted.
 20. The method of controlling a bar-code ticket processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: displaying the image information of the bar-code ticket judged as the error bar-code ticket in the judging of the bar-code ticket. 